Introduction

New Zealand is a country placed high on most travelers bucket list, and the country with the two big islands also has a lot to offer. The nature is impressive, ubiquitous and highly varied from north to south, where the climate is also constantly changing.

The major cities of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are all full of sights. Everywhere there are beautiful heritage buildings, museums, parks and everything that cities have to offer. There is a great deal to see in Auckland as the largest city and in Wellington as the country's capital.

The North Island's active subsoil provides many points of interest beyond Auckland and Wellington. The city of Rotorua is the center of the unique environment, which consists of, among other things, Wai-O-Tapu, Lake Taupo and Lake Rotorua.

The South Island landscapes differ from those of the North Island. The Southern Alps cut through the island longitudinally, with glaciers and colossal, serene fjords on the west and flatter land to the east. Keikoura with whale watching and Queenstown are among the most popular places.

Biggest cities
  • Auckland: 1,628,900
  • Wellington: 418,500
  • Christchurch: 404,500
  • Hamilton: 241,200 
  • Tauranga: 141,600 
Find cheap flights and hotels
Holidays
  • January 1-2: New Year
  • February 6: Waitangi Day
  • Date varies: Good Friday
  • Date varies: Easter Day
  • Date varies: Easter Monday
  • April 25: ANZAC Day
  • 1st Monday in June: Queen's birthday
  • Monday, October 4: Labor Day
  • December 8: Immaculate Conception
  • December 25: Christmas Day
  • December 26: Boxing Day
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Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand

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Practical info
  • Official Name: New Zealand, Aotearoa
  • Capital: Wellington
  • National anthem: God defend New Zealand
  • Language: English
  • Population (2013): 4,242,048
  • Primary religion: Christianity
  • Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
  • Drives in: Left side
  • Domain: .nz
  • Phone code: +64
  • Time Zone: NZST (UTC + 12)
  • Power and plugs: 230 V / 50 Hz, plug type I
Geography
  • Area: 268,680 km² / 103,738 sq mi
  • Highest point: Mount Cook 3,754 m / 12,316 feet
  • Longest river: Waikato 425 km / 264 mi
  • Largest lake: Lake Taupo 616 km² / 238 sq mi
  • Largest island: South Island 151,215 km² / 58,384 sq mi
  • Boundaries: North: Pacific Ocean. South: Pacific Ocean. East: Pacific Ocean. West: The Tasmanian Sea
Celebrities
  • Hone Heke: Chief, 1807-1850
  • Ernest Rutherford: Physicist, 1871-1937
  • Richard Pearse: Flight Pioneers, 1877-1953
  • Katherine Mansfield: Author, 1888-1923
  • Jean Batten: Pilot, 1909-1982
  • Edmund Hillary: Mountaineer, 1919-2008
  • Peter Blake: Sailor, 1948-2001
  • Peter Jackson: Film Director, 1961-
  • Russell Crowe: Actor, 1964-
  • Lucy Lawless: Actor, 1968-